Health & Wellness

Articles

Simple Foods for Healthy Skin

Have you ever thought about the roles that skin plays? Skin holds our body fluids in, skin keeps harmful microbes out, skin is chock-full of nerve endings that help us feel cold, heat, and pain, skin helps regulate the body temperature via sweat glands, and skin comes into contact, every day, with a plethora of elements. These are a lot of amazing things, right? And all the more reason why each of us should take care of our skin. Did you know that when skin is exposed to the sun's ultraviolet rays, it produces vitamin D? Vitamin D is an...

Raspberries to the Rescue

With their velvety texture and terrific taste, it's no wonder that raspberries are a summertime favorite. These berries may be small but their health benefits are big. Raspberries are an excellent source of fiber, manganese, and vitamin C; a very good source of copper; and a good source of folate, potassium, vitamin E and K, and more.
When buying raspberries, keep these tips in mind: organic raspberries have been shown to have higher antioxidant capacity than non-organic raspberries, and raspberries that are fully ripe offer the most antioxidant support. The antioxidants found in raspberries help to fight against free radicals,...

Hot Peppers for Good Health

Hot peppers have been known for their feisty flavors for approximately 7,000 years! That's a lot of loving, and thanks to their health benefits, hot peppers will and should continue to be put on menus. What gives hot peppers their health benefits are 1) antioxidant carotenes and flavonoids, 2) compounds known as capsaicinoids, and 3) vitamin C.
Here are three hot pepper health benefits.
Minimized arthritis pain. Studies have revealed that hot peppers can suppress Substance P production. Elevated levels of Substance P have been found in the synovial fluid in the joints of people who suffer from arthritis pain....

Healthy Tuna Salad Lettuce Wrap Recipe

Remember when P.F. Chang's Lettuce Wraps hit the food scene? They were, and still are, a hit. And what's really amazing about them is that lettuce has become a culinary rock star when it comes to wraps and healthier eating. Yes. Lettuce. Lettuce is now a "bun" and a "tortilla," figuratively speaking.
Lettuce is low in calories and contains calcium, dietary fiber, iron, manganese, and potassium, just to name a few benefits. And with a variety of lettuces that offer varying tastes and textures, you always have fresh options for different wraps.
Boston butter head lettuce is soft and smooth,...

Say "Yes!" to Yogurt

In addition to being absolutely delicious, yogurt has some pretty amazing health benefits.
Yogurt is great for better skin, thanks to the lactic acid it contains. Try this home beauty exfoliation treatment. Stir together 1 cup of Greek yogurt, 1 tablespoon of honey, and 3 drops of olive oil. Spread onto face, let sit for 20 minutes, rinse off, and pat skin dry.
Yogurt contains beneficial bacteria (probiotics) that can help aid with digestion. Look for yogurt that contains, at least, one billion colony-forming units (CFUs) of live cultures. You can find this information at the websites of yogurt...

Put Healthy Leeks on Your Menus

If you haven't become a lover of leeks yet, you'll want to start putting this healthful vegetable on your grocery list. Leeks contain high concentrations of antioxidant polyphenols and a flavonoid known as kaempferol which helps protect blood vessel linings from damage. Additional health benefits that leeks may provide include providing protection against diabetes, obesity, and rheumatoid arthritis to name a couple.
The most concentrated area of flavonoids found in leeks is in bulb portion and lower leaf. Look for leeks with dark green leaves and white necks, as well as being straight and firm. Leeks that have a diameter...

Good-for-You Green Beans

Whether you call them green beans or string beans, one thing’s for certain: this bean is good for you. Loaded with a beta-carotene, lutein, neoxanthin, violaxanthin, quercetin, catechins, procyanidins and more, green beans have been shown to have more antioxidant capacity than other foods in the bean and pea families. Cardiovascular benefits, anti-inflammatory benefits, and minerals and vitamins such as iron and vitamins C and K make green beans a must-have for healthy eating.
Complement chicken dishes with this flavorful green bean recipe.
Green Beans with Honey-Mustard Glaze
Ingredients
2 pounds green beans, trimmed
3 tablespoons mustard seeds
⅓ cup...

Osteoporosis 101

Everyone should be educated about osteoporosis. Why? Because osteoporosis affects women and men of all races. And those at higher risk of osteoporosis are Asian and white women, especially those who have already experienced menopause. For ourselves and for our loved ones, it’s important to learn about osteoporosis.
Osteoporosis is a type of bone disease that increases the risk of brittle and broken bones. Because bone is living tissue, it is constantly being replaced by new bone. When the body does not form enough new bone or when too much existing bone is reabsorbed by the body osteoporosis occurs. And...

Vitamin B2 101

When it comes to vitamins and the body there are so many things to consider, especially in relation to deficiencies in the body. And one important vitamin is vitamin B2. Vitamin B2, also known as riboflavin, helps the body convert carbohydrates from foods into glucose for fuel. Vitamin B2 also helps to fight free radicals, which in turn may help to reduce some of the damage that free radicals do to cells and DNA, as well as other damages that free radicals do to the body. One thing to note about all of the B vitamins is that they are...

Vitamin A 101

Did you know that there are two different types of vitamin A? One is called preformed vitamin A, which is found in animal products such as dairy foods, fish, meat, and poultry. This type of vitamin A is fat-soluble, which means the vitamin A is stored in fat tissues in the body until the body needs it. At that point, a carrier within the body will transport the vitamin A wherever it’s needed. The other one is called pro-vitamin A, which is found in plant-based foods such as fruits and vegetables. This type of vitamin is water-soluble, which means it...

In Season

Matters of the heart are always important, but especially so during the month of February. Not only is there Valentine's Day to think about, February is also American Heart Month. This is a good time to evaluate your food choices and the impact they may have on your heart. Fresh, in season fruits and vegetables are among the best choices you can make for your heart health.